Is Pale Skin Safer than a Good Tan?
What is it about a tan that makes us feel better? Why do so many equate a nice tan with health – especially when more and more research is showing up on the link between tanning and DNA damage and skin cancer?
A recent report from London reported – International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category, deeming them as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas.
The article noted that the risk of skin cancer increases to 75% for those under 30 years old using artificial tanning means.
Most tanning bed industries promote that indoor tanning is much safer than receiving outdoor exposure to the sun. Light emitted from tanning equipment contains approximately 40% less UVB rays, the most harmful type of radiation, than does light from the sun. Tanning beds have the power to control exposure time and the ratio of UVA to UVB rays for a “perfect balance”. Since tanning beds filter out most of the burning UVB rays, chances of getting burned decrease dramatically.
The statistics about tanning beds and skin cancer is frightening and should be an eye-opener for all of us. If you love to indoor tan or are considering it, medical experts say you should think twice if you care about your skin.
Doctors and medical researchers say you should never be fooled by claims made by tanning salons or bed/booth manufacturers whereby they state their beds are completely safe – no tanning bed or booth is safe.
Just because tanning equipment emits mostly UVA rays included of UVB rays that too should not fool you. Sure, UVA rays do not cause sunburn as often but studies actually show UVA rays can cause melanoma, the deadliest of all cancers. UVA rays also increase the risk of the other two types of cancers.
We envy, golden tans and healthy looking skin but when it comes to tanning devices, the bottom line seems to be health versus beauty in the eye of the beholder.
Googling “tanning and cancer research” is enough to make you think twice. But, like many things, this is a personal decision. Look at all the research on smoking and the millions that continue to ignore it at the cost of their health and potentially, their life.
Skin cancer and colon cancer are two of the cancers which we can help prevent with common sense and regular check ups. It’s a shame that there are so many stories of people who waited too long to go to the doctor. I knew several people who finally did only to have the doctor say – gosh, I wish you had come in a couple of months ago, we might have been able to do something.
